Car from Oakland to Hilo (Honolulu, Laupahoehoe: insurance, buying, cost)

[EddieLo]

I have booked with Coastal Auto Shipping, Oakland to Hilo via Honolulu. The way I understand it is Matson ships from Oakland to Honolulu. Then from Honolulu it's placed on a barge to Hilo. The total cost is $970. However a friend recommends Pasha because supposedly they ship Oakland to Hilo in enclosed ship. On Matson car is covered but only from Oakland to Honolulu. On the barge the car is exposed to the elements. Plus if rough seas may get fully engulfed in wave action.
My question, is that correct? If Pasha goes non-stop Oakland to Hilo, I'll go with them. I'm just wondering if they also go to Honolulu first and then barge to Hilo.
Thanks
EL

[KauaiHiker]

I have heard pasha has an enclosed ship directly to the outer islands, and I know matson services Kauai with an open barge, so likely Hilo too. I don't know about the long leg to Honolulu. You can call them and ask for all the details.

I haven't heard of Matson or young brothers losing cargo off their barges, but I suppose it's possible. Ask them about insurance, who pays and how it works when you have them on the phone.

Relevant news article: Matson is buying an LNG powered container and vehicle roll-on roll-off (enclosed) ship.

Matson Orders Two 'LNG-Capable' ConRos for $511 Million – gCaptain

[Jungjohann]

Originally Posted by KauaiHiker

I haven't heard of Matson or young brothers losing cargo off their barges, but I suppose it's possible. Ask them about insurance, who pays and how it works when you have them on the phone.

I was paddling off South Maui years ago, after a major storm, saw something LARGE on the water a few hundred yards away, it was a Matson 40 footer, bobbing merrily along, looked like it was heading for the Bigger Island, without the barge of course.
It happens, but VERY rarely. As far as cars on board being 'swept' by the open swell, doesn't happen. Maybe wind born spray, but not open ocean swells flowing over the barge. Young Bros. won't go out if it's that bad, which it rarely is.

I'd be more concerned about a swarm of ocean going cannibals eating the Young Bros tug crew than something going amiss with your car whilst it's in transit inter island

[hi207408]

We shipped our Chevy Tahoe from alaska.. if I remember right they said it would be under cover from the west coast ... then exposed coming from Oahu.
It was covered in sea spray/ salt when we picked it up in Hilo.But it washed off easily enough.

[hotzcatz]

There was that barge full of cars that got wrecked off of Laupahoehoe decades ago. Folks said they found car parts washing up for about a year afterwards, the person telling me about it found a steering wheel, I think they'd said. I think it was a barge of new cars, but it's been several years since they told me the story and it was from decades ago, too. Dunno which service it was with, but there aren't that many that carry cars inter-island.